State of Delaware Archives: on Immigration
Alex Pires:
Don't split up members of immigrant workers' families
Asked for his opinion on undocumented workers, Pires said he employs many Hispanic workers in his eight companies in Sussex County, and that while border-control should be reformed, he said he would never support legislation that split up members
of immigrant workers' families.Carper said he has worked to establish legislation that secures U.S. borders, and that children who have migrated here with their families should not be forced to leave.
Source: Newark Post on 2012 Delaware Senate debate
Oct 19, 2012
Chris Coons:
Supports comprehensive federal immigration reform
Chris strongly believes in the need for comprehensive federal immigration reform.
Source: Delaware Congressional Election 2010 Political Courage Test
Sep 25, 2010
Chris Coons:
No pathway to citizenship; but pathway to legal residency
Q: A pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, you support that, right?COONS: No. I support a pathway to being here legally. We've got roughly 12 million illegal immigrants in the US today. This is a huge problem. And immigration is a federal
responsibility. But we need to recognize the situation we're in. There are whole industries that rely on the labor of those who are here illegally. My path forward on immigration would be, strengthen the borders. Second, hold employers accountable,
particularly those who routinely employ folks who are here illegally, by giving them Real ID that can work. And then allow those who are here illegally and do not commit further crimes to come out of the shadows if they will pay taxes, learn English, pay
a fine, and go to the back of the line. I would give them a path towards legal residence. I think there's more they'd have to do to ever earn citizenship.
O'DONNELL: Again, he's back tracking on things that he had said earlier on the campaign trail.
Source: CNN's Wolf Blitzer moderating 2010 Delaware Senate debate
Oct 13, 2010
Chris Coons:
Establish new guardrails against immigration bans
Pres. Trump instituted a travel ban on 8 countries, popularly nicknamed "the Muslim ban" since most of the countries it applied to were majority Muslim. Pres. Biden rescinded the policy on his first day in office. Currently, federal law bans
discrimination when entering the US on the basis of 5 characteristics: race, sex, nationality, place of birth, or place of residence. The NO BAN Act would add another category: religion."The Muslim ban senselessly upended lives--separating thousands
of Americans from their families and stripping fundamental protections from those with every right to be in the US," Sen. Coons˙said. "We've turned the page on this hateful policy, but we must ensure that no president can ever again act through fear and
prejudice to discriminate based on religion or nationality. The [NO BAN Act will] establish new guardrails to ensure our immigration policies are rooted in our values, not in fear." [See details of NO BAN Act]
Source: GovTrack.us on 2020 Delaware Senate race
Jul 19, 2021
Christine O`Donnell:
Put virtual fence on border; don't reward those who cheat
Q: [to Coons]: A pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, you support that, right?COONS: No. I support a pathway to being here legally. My path forward would be: strengthen the borders; hold employers accountable; then allow a path towards
legal residence.
O'DONNELL: He's back tracking on things that he had said earlier on the campaign trail. This administration recently stopped the efforts to put a virtual fence on our border. When Barack Obama is standing with you on a campaign trail
this Friday, are you going to tell him that you disagree with him on his immigration reform efforts? I believe that securing our borders should be our first priority. America is a magnet for those all over the world, and therefore, I support a legal
pathway to those who are coming over here, especially for political asylum, to seek a better life than they do in our country. And to reward those who break our laws is to cheat those who honor them.
Source: CNN's Wolf Blitzer moderating 2010 Delaware Senate debate
Oct 13, 2010
Christine O`Donnell:
Ease pathway to citizenship for legal immigrants
Q: You say that you agreed to the pathway to citizenship?O'DONNELL: For legal [immigrants].
Q: But you don't want to provide amnesty.
O'DONNELL: I don't want to provide amnesty.
Q: How can you do one without the other?
O'DONNELL: Because what
I'm saying is we have to get rid of all the bureaucratic messes that make the legal pathway difficult. But when someone willingly breaks our laws, that sends a message: "Don't worry about the laws that we've set up; don't worry about those who are on lon
waiting lists for political asylum; break our laws and we'll grant you these benefits." It's sending the wrong message. It's economically hurting us. And it's also a national security issue.
COONS: Ms.
O'Donnell patently mischaracterizes her own position.
O'DONNELL: I do support responsible guest worker programs. And that's the difference.
COONS: If you can reconcile all those comments, you're an even more talented reporter than I think you are.
Source: CNN's Wolf Blitzer moderating 2010 Delaware Senate debate
Oct 13, 2010
Chuck Boyce:
Comprehensive reform including a path to citizenship
Our country has long served as a shining city on a hill. For centuries, people from all over the world have flocked to this land in search of religious freedom, economic opportunity, and liberty.
I will actively support comprehensive immigration reform that secures our border, decreases illegal immigration and opens a fair legal process that allows a path to citizenship for law abiding permanent resident immigrants who have been here and lived
by our laws and contributed to our society.We must never forget that America is a country built by immigrants with laws that must be upheld to maintain order.
I will always be a proponent of legal immigration in which all immigrants striving to achieve the American Dream know that they can come here only through the legal process by our laws set in place.
Source: 2018 Delaware Senatorial campaign website ChuckForSenate.com
Feb 22, 2018
Chuck Boyce:
Double headline - Already Done
On immigration, Boyce said the United States "absolutely" needs to have secure borders. "We need to make sure we understand who is coming into our country, and we need to have a merit-based system," he said.Boyce said he supports President
Donald Trump's proposed border wall, as well as "21st-century solutions." He said the wall is going to "cost a lot of money and it's going to take a lot of time, and it's a 6th-century solution to a 21st-century problem."
Boyce also said he believes it is important that immigrants who are here "are going to assimilate into our culture and make sure that they are going to be contributing members of our society."
Truono said, "Let's just be honest--
our immigration system is broken. It takes far too long for people to come into this country legally." He called the issue "a can that Congress has kicked down the road" and said he supports currently proposed comprehensive immigration legislation.
Source: Coastal Point on 2018 Delaware Senate debate
Mar 2, 2018
Colin Bonini:
Only vote against driver licenses for illegal immigrants
The state Senate advanced legislation that would let those who are in the country illegally obtain driving privileges. Applicants would have to submit fingerprints at a police station, sign an affidavit confirming their identity, and show state tax
returns. They also would have to provide proof of foreign nationality and show that they've lived in Delaware for two years. Cards would be marked "Not Valid for Identification" and "Driving Privileges Only." It will cost an estimated $317,652 to start
the program and an additional $112,652 in annual costs.The vote was 17-1, with Sen. Colin Bonini casting the only no vote. Bonini said the legislation is unfair to legal immigrants "who are waiting in line, lawfully and legally,
to get into this country."
"We're asking Delaware taxpayers to pay half a million dollars for services for illegal immigrants," Bonini said in testimony on the Senate floor.
Source: News-Journal on 2016 Delaware gubernatorial race
Jun 23, 2015
Gene Truono:
Supports comprehensive immigration reform, and address DACA
Candidates Chuck Boyce and Gene Truono addressed 10 questions on a range of subjects. Boyce said he supports President Donald Trump's proposed border wall, as well as "21st-century solutions." He said the wall is going to "cost a lot of money and
it's going to take a lot of time, and it's a 6th-century solution to a 21st-century problem."Truono said, "Let's just be honest--our immigration system is broken. It takes far too long for people to come into this country legally."
He called the issue "a can that Congress has kicked down the road" and said he supports currently proposed comprehensive immigration legislation but he said he feels it is unlikely it will pass during the current Congressional session.
He said he supports the border wall and ending so-called "chain migration" but feels that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) should be addressed in exchange for those.
Source: Coastal Point on 2018 Delaware Senate debate
Mar 2, 2018
Gene Truono:
New policy for legal immigration: more border security
Gene will fight for a compassionate policy that prioritizes legal immigration. Our current immigration policy has been broken for decades. Any meaningful reform must provide for an increase in
border security to reduce both human trafficking and illegal drugs crossing our borders. Gene believes that existing laws related to immigration should be enforced. It is our laws and our constitution that make our country strong.
Source: 2018 Delaware Senate campaign website VoteTruono.com
Apr 4, 2018
James DeMartino:
The law must be enforced! Must not allow open borders
To protect our culture, our citizens and our way of life, we have immigration laws. These laws are designed to protect our country and our citizen's health, welfare and businesses. The law must be enforced!
Controlling our borders, supporting the Border Patrol and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency is imperative. The United States is a sovereign country and must not allow open borders.
Source: 2020 Delaware Senate campaign website VoteDeMartino.com
Aug 20, 2020
Jan Ting:
San Diego fence works--extend it to entire Mexican border
The son of Chinese immigrants, Ting has made toughening immigration controls his key theme. Ting opposes a bill approved in May by Carper and the Senate by a 63-36 vote that would allow illegal immigrants who have been here at least five years to become
citizens after paying fines, fees and taxes, and learning English. Those here two to five years would return to their native county and apply to return, but those here less than two years would have to leave. Nor does Ting think beefing up current border
security would stem the tide of illegal immigrants, now estimated at 12 million. "That's not going to work unless we're going to lay hands across America 24/7." What America needs, Ting believes, is a fence along much-if not all-of the Mexican border.
He notes that a 14-mile-long fence in San Diego has reduced the flood of undocumented immigrants into California to a trickle. "It's been dramatic,'' Ting said. "People were moving away from San Diego because they couldn't stand the crime.''
Source: Cris Barrish, The Delaware News Journal, "Republican issues"
Sep 3, 2006
Jan Ting:
Comprehensive immigration reform is a defeatist solution
TING: The immigration system is completely broken down. Every night of the year thousands of people cross our borders. Laws that are not enforced are not really laws. A nation that can't defend its own borders is not really a nation. The solution that
Sen. Carper has proposed, which he calls comprehensive immigration reform, amounts to an amnesty with Social Security credit for illegal aliens, and permission for them to bring their families into the US, immediately, without numerical limits, from
anywhere in the world. I think that's a defeatist solution and frankly I don't think that's a solution at all. One amnesty will simply lead to another. If we want open borders, then we ought to support Sen. Carper's plan. If we want to maintain control
of our borders, and defend the most generous legal immigration system in the world, then vote for Jan Ting.CARPER: It's unlawful for illegal aliens to receive Social Security. They can't do it under the law [nor the comprehensive immigration reform].
Source: Delaware 2006 Senate Debate, hosted by WHYY-TV
Oct 20, 2006
Jessica Scarane:
End mass deportations and close the border camps
Protect Immigrants: CORE POLICIES- Pass comprehensive immigration reform that protects Dreamers and creates a path to citizenship for those already in the country
- End mass deportations and close the border camps
-
Expand refugee programs
- Abolish ICE & replace it with a passport verification and control agency
Source: 2020 Delaware Senate campaign website JessForDelaware.com
Nov 30, 2019
Jessica Scarane:
Reform immigration services to cater to DREAMers needs
Protect Immigrants: CORE POLICIES: - Pass comprehensive immigration reform that protects dreamers and creates a path to citizenship for those already in the country.
- End mass deportations and close the border camps.
-
Expand refugee programs.
- Abolish ICE & replace it with passport verification and control agency.
Source: 2020 Senate campaign website JessForDelaware.com
Dec 13, 2019
Jessica Scarane:
Reform immigration services to cater to "dreamers" needs
Pass comprehensive immigration reform that protects dreamers and creates a path to citizenship for those already in the country.
End mass deportations and close the border camps. Expand refugee programs. Abolish ICE & replace it with passport verification and control agency.
Source: 2020 Senate campaign website JessForDelaware.com
Dec 13, 2019
Kevin Wade:
It's not hard to come here legally; follow the right away
Asked for his opinion on undocumented workers, Carper said he has worked to establish legislation that secures U.S. borders. Wade disagreed that America's borders are secure, and said that while immigration "feeds the American spirit," it should be done
properly. "There are many right ways to do it, and there's a handful of wrong ways to do it. It's not hard to come here legally; it's not hard to become a citizen. Let's just follow the path that others have taken that have built this nation."
Source: Newark Post on 2012 Delaware Senate debate
Oct 19, 2012
Kevin Wade:
Secure the border; return lost children to home countries
YOUR SECURITY! - Secure the Border and Care for Americans in Need.
These lost children need to be returned to their families in their home countries
Source: 2014 Delaware Senate campaign website, WadeForUSSenate.com
Jul 27, 2014
Lauren Witzke:
Limit immigration to match emigration, except for marriage
Witzke supports a full 10-year moratorium on all immigration; only allowing migrants in to replace migration out of the country; netting at zero. Exceptions will be made for legitimate marriage and fiance visas.
Immigration laws should be strictly enforced, and our border secured. End DACA and deport the recipients. Our ancestors did not merely migrate to America, they founded America.
Source: 2020 Delaware Senate campaign website LaurenWitzke.com
Oct 10, 2020
Lauren Witzke:
Foreigners dismantle our culture, use drugs and take jobs
Witzke blamed immigrants for drug addiction and job loss in the United States. She said most politicians do not share her views because they are beholden to large donors. "People are so worried about being labeled a white supremacist when we are giving
our country away to foreigners. They are dismantling our culture. They're taking down our historical monuments. They're voting against our interests."
Source: Cleveland Jewish News on 2020 Delaware Senate race
Oct 8, 2020
Rob Arlett:
For immigration reform: keep illegals out & welcome legals
As the Husband of a legal immigrant from Vietnam, Rob knows that immigration can be great for America. Rob knows that we must respect our country's laws and border security to ensure that all people who want to come to America and contribute
to our great country do so legally. Rob will remain steadfast in following through on immigration reform to ensure that the legal process of immigration into the U.S. is shorter, but thorough with full and comprehensive background checks.
Source: 2018 Delaware Senate Campaign website RobArlett.com
Sep 1, 2018
Tom Carper:
If immigrants stay out of trouble, they can stay
Asked for his opinion on undocumented workers, Carper said he has worked to establish legislation that secures U.S. borders, and that children who have migrated here with their families should not be forced to leave. "If they've stayed
out of trouble, if they're doing well in school, they can stay," he said. "They can't become citizens, but they can stay."
Source: Newark Post on 2012 Delaware Senate debate
Oct 19, 2012
Tom Carper:
No one proposes that illegal aliens receive Social Security
TING: The immigration system is completely broken down. Every night of the year thousands of people cross our borders. Laws that are not enforced are not really laws. A nation that can't defend its own borders is not really a nation. The solution that
Sen. Carper has proposed, which he calls comprehensive immigration reform, amounts to an amnesty with Social Security credit for illegal aliens, and permission for them to bring their families into the US, immediately, without numerical limits, from
anywhere in the world. I think that's a defeatist solution and frankly I don't think that's a solution at all. One amnesty will simply lead to another. If we want open borders, then we ought to support Sen. Carper's plan. If we want to maintain control
of our borders, and defend the most generous legal immigration system in the world, then vote for Jan Ting.CARPER: It's unlawful for illegal aliens to receive Social Security. They can't do it under the law [nor the comprehensive immigration reform].
Source: Delaware 2006 Senate Debate, hosted by WHYY-TV (X-ref Ting)
Oct 20, 2006
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023